WELCOME 8TH GRADE HONORS STUDENTS:

HOW TO USE THIS SITE: View due dates on the assignment calendar (below). Then, download needed PowerPoint notes, assigned readings, projects and homework documents by scrolling this page down to the appropriate Social Studies unit! You can submit your completed work, either by hard copy or by email!

TECHNICAL NOTE: You will need to unzip each unit file. Documents are in PDF form or Word 2003 and 2007. You can download Adobe for freehere. If you do not have Word, you can download a free 60-day trial version at Microsoft's websitehere. Or, if your already have Microsoft Office 2003, but not 2007, you can download the compatibility pack to view 2007 and 2010 documents. If you want to use a free word processing program which opens Word and PowerPoint files, download Open Office here.If you want to write on top of a pdf file, download a free pdf editorhere.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS: EMAIL MR. CEGIELSKI HERE!NOTE: Your comments, requests and questions will be emailed to me once you hit "submit." I should respond within 24-48 hours. If you do not receive a response, please contact me by the email listed above or by phone. Please be aware that you will need to use "The Assignment Submission Form" (below) or your own email accounts when sending me homework attachments. Thanks, Mr. Cegielski

Name:

Email Address:

Comments:

Thank you, your message has been sent

8TH GRADE ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION FORM:Students: Use this form to quickly submit assignments to my email address by uploading your file.

INTRODUCTION: WHY STUDY HISTORY?

8TH GRADE CORE KNOWLEDGE HISTORY CURRICULUM

NOTE:While the course will proceed in chronological order, some units listed below may be skipped, given time constraints. The instructor reserves the right to make modifications as the year progresses.

UNIT I: END OF EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM (Note: This section is divided into subunits below):

Subunit: End of Imperialism in IndiaESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What were the economic, political and social causes of European imperialism in India and around the globe?2) What was the difference between "old imperialism" and "new imperialism?"3) How did India gain independence from Great Britain through "non-violent" means?4) What has been the lasting legacy of imperialism in India?

Subunit: End of Imperialism in AfricaESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What factors led to the rise of the "new imperialism" in Africa?2) How did European powers claim territory in Africa?3) How did Africans resist European imperialism and eventually gain independence?

Subunit: End of Imperialism in AsiaESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How did European powers and the U.S. exert economic imperialism over China and Japan?2) How did these Asian nations resist and eventually establish economic independence?

UNIT II: U.S. CIVICS - SPECIAL 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UNITESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What voting rights are guaranteed by the Constitution?2) How does the voting and election process reflect the Founding Father’s belief in a democratic republic?3) What is the process by which a President gets elected? Is the Electoral College fair?4) How does the mass media play a role in the election process?5) What factorst mos contribute to a successful presidential campaign and victory? Are polls and predictions always reliable?

UNIT V: MODERN CHINA, 1900-PRESENT ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why did the last Chinese dynasty fall? What were the principles of the new Republic of China?2) What were the conflicting political ideologies of Nationalist Party leader Chang Kai-Shek and Communist Party leader Mao Zedong?3) How did Mao lead several "revolutions" in China to create a strong Communist government? What were the costs?4) What is the lasting legacy of China's communist government?

Subunit: Early Cold War, 1945-1953ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What were Yalta and Potsdam?2) Why did the alliance that had existed between the U.S. and Russia during WWII fall apart?3) What were the major points of difference between the two new superpowers?4) What were the new roles of President Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin in world politics?5) Why did the world's first arms race emerge?

Subunit: The Korean War, 1950-1953ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why did Truman decide to involve the U.S. in the conflict between North and South Korea?2) Was U.S. involvement in the Korean War ultimately successful? Why or why not?

Subunit: The Cold War, 1953-1990ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What ideological conflicts between the Super powers persisted through this period?2) What was the Space race symbolic of?3) How did the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. narrowly avoid nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis?4) What factors led to the fall of communism and the Soviet Union and how did thegeography of Eastern Europe change as a result?

VIETNAM WAR AND COUNTERCULTURE, 1954-1975 SUBUNIT (Note: The Viet Nam War is often considered part of the Cold War Era, but I often teach it as a separate subunit.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) Why did President Johnson decide to get the U.S. involved in the conflict between North and South Viet Nam?2) What were the successes and failures of the U.S. military in Viet Nam?3) Why did an anti-war, counter-culture movement form and what was its lasting influence upon American society?4) What was actually accomplished by the end of the War?

Subunit: Civil Rights Movement, Part IIESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How did charismatic civil rights leaders, such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., initiate change through non-violent means?2) Compare/contrast and evaluate the legacies of President Kennedy, President Johnson, MLK and Malcom X within the era of Civil Rights.

OPTIONAL UNIT: THE RISE OF ISLAM AND THE CRUSADES ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How did religious ideology fuel the Islamic conquest of the Middle East?2) Why did Pope Urban II of Rome call for a Crusade? Were the first crusades successful? Evaluate the actions of the Crusaders.3) Compare/contrast the military tactics and thinking of Saladin and Richard the Lionheart.4) How did the Crusades set a precedent for future Christian-Muslim relations?

OPTIONAL UNIT: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) What factors contributed to the rise of the Ottoman Empire?2) How did the Ottomans conquer the city of Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire?3) What were the cultural and political achievements of some of the greatest Ottoman sultans?4) How did the Ottoman Empire fall?

UNIT VI: THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How and why was the Jewish nation of Israel formed from the area previously known as Muslim Palestine?2) How has conflict persisted since Israel's conception between Palestinian refugees and extremists and Jews? 3) Will there ever by a permanent, peaceful solution to end the conflict?

UNIT VII: IRAQ--OIL POLITICS, TERRORISM AND WARSESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:1) How did Saddam Hussein rise to power in Iraq?2) What provoked the Iran-Iraq War?3) Were the military goals of the First Gulf War accomplished?4) Why did Muslim extremists initiate the 9/11 attacks?5) How did 9/11 initiate the U.S. War on Terror and the U.S. invasion and War in Iraq in 2003? Was the U.S. justified in toppling Saddam's regime and installing a democracy?